Two military officers among 5 killed in blast in Pakistan

Islamabad: Two Lieutenant Colonels were among five people killed today when a suicide bomber disguised as a beggar targeted a security forces vehicle in Pakistan's garrison city of Rawalpindi.A security forces vehicle was targeted by

Islamabad: Two Lieutenant Colonels were among five people killed today when a suicide bomber disguised as a beggar targeted a security forces vehicle in Pakistan's garrison city of Rawalpindi.

A security forces vehicle was targeted by the suicide bomber. Two officers (Lt Col Zahir Shah and Lt Col Arshad) and three civilian were killed, an army official said.

The incident took place near railway crossing on Fateh Jang Road in Tarnol area of Rawalpindi, where army headquarters is located.

Quoting witnesses, Duniya News reported that the suicide bomber disguised himself as a beggar hit the military vehicle when it passed through the railway crossing. No one has claimed responsibility for the attack but Taliban often target the security forces in the region.

The army cordoned off the area and launched a search operation.

Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif sought a report from IG Police Punjab. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif visited the Joint Staff Headquarters in Rawalpindi and attended the funeral of the two military officers.

He also condemned the attack and expressed his grief and sorrow over the incident.

Defence analysts believe that the attack could be the reaction of the recent surgical strikes on the hideouts of Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in the North Waziristan tribal region.

More than 80 militants including top commanders of TTP were killed in three successive days of airstrikes last month.